365 Nights of Astronomy

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Jupiter and Spica Shine in the Pre-Dawn Twilight

Click on an image to enlarge. Images created using the Mobile Observatory app for Android – http://zima.co/

January 16th, 2017

Jupiter and Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, have been drawing closer together for some time – and Jupiter will remain the vicinity for months to come. This morning, however, the pair are at their closest. You’ll need to watch them closely for several weeks to see them separate but the gradual change will be noticeable over time. The last quarter Moon will be nearby on the 19th.

Adapted from 2017: The Night Sky Sights (available in the U.S., and the United Kingdom)and 2017: An Astronomical Year (available in the U.S., and the United Kingdom.) For an easy guide to learn the constellations in the night sky, try my book, Signposts to the Stars (see image and links below.)

Details of all available books across the world can be found here or by visiting the author’s page on Amazon. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at astronomywriter “at” gmail.com